System and method for automated preparation of quotes and proposals

Abstract

A system includes a proposal engine configured to present quotes and/or proposals to customers at a network site.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for preparing an automated quote or proposal, comprising:
 receiving, from a user via a user interface into a client software application, a selection of items for a proposal to a customer; 
 transmitting, from the client software application via a network interface to a server, the selection of items, wherein the proposal including the selection of items will be subsequently viewable at a Deep Web network address not indexed by search engines; and 
 causing the Deep Web network address to be provided to or made accessible to a customer computer for subsequent viewing. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a user via the user interface into the client software application, a command to publish the proposal including the selection of items. 
 
     
     
       3. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 2 , wherein the command to publish includes an explicit actuation of a graphical user interface (GUI) object by a user. 
     
     
       4. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 2 , wherein the command to publish is implicit in the selection of items. 
     
     
       5. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the user via the user interface, a selection of a proposal template; and
 transmitting from the client software application via the network interface to the proposal engine, the selected proposal template or an identity of the selected proposal template. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the selection of items includes receiving at least two line items; and
 wherein the proposal including the at least two line items will be subsequently viewable at the network address. 
 
     
     
       7. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein causing the Deep Web network address to be provided to the customer computer for subsequent viewing includes receiving, from the user via the user interface into the client software application a command to publish the proposal. 
     
     
       8. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein causing the Deep Web network address to be provided to the customer computer includes transmitting the Deep Web network address to the customer computer from the client software application or from an email application running on a client computer on which the client software application is also running. 
     
     
       9. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein causing the Deep Web network address to be provided to the customer computer for subsequent viewing includes causing an email message including the Deep Web network address to be transmitted to the customer computer. 
     
     
       10. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 causing the email message to include branding defined by an email template. 
 
     
     
       11. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein causing the Deep Web network address to be provided to the customer computer for subsequent viewing includes displaying a GUI network address access object at a location accessible to the customer computer. 
     
     
       12. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein the Deep Web network address is a contextual address. 
     
     
       13. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein the Deep Web network address is generated by a JavaScript or other randomizing or pseudo-randomizing application. 
     
     
       14. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein the Deep Web network address comprises:
 a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) including a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that is indexed; and 
 associated with the URL, a non-indexed query including a passcode that is generated by a random number or pseudo-random number generator and which provides a path to the proposal. 
 
     
     
       15. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting data, a request, or a command to the server to display the proposal as a web page at the Deep Web network address. 
 
     
     
       16. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data, a request, or a command to the server to display the proposal using a template that includes a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to receive input from the customer when the proposal is accessed at the Deep Web network address. 
     
     
       17. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the selection of items from the client software application to the proposal engine includes transmitting two or more selections of items; and
 wherein two or more proposals including the respective selections of items will be subsequently viewable at two or more respective Deep Web network addresses. 
 
     
     
       18. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, via the network interface from the proposal engine or the customer computer, a notification of a proposal acceptance. 
     
     
       19. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via a network interface from the server or the customer computer, a notification of a request for at least one change in the proposal. 
 
     
     
       20. The method for preparing an automated quote or proposal of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection or approval of the at least one change via the user interface; 
 transmitting at least the change to the server; and 
 causing a notification of the changed proposal to be provided to a customer computer for subsequent viewing at the Deep Web network address.